Consumer cooperatives are
enterprises owned by consumers and managed
democratically which aim at fulfilling the needs and aspirations of their members. They operate within the
market system, independently of the state, as a form of
mutual aid, oriented toward service rather than pecuniary profit. Consumers' cooperatives often take the form of retail outlets owned and operated by their consumers, such as
food co-ops. However, there are many types of consumers' cooperatives, operating in areas such as health care, insurance,
housing,
utilities and personal finance (including
credit unions).